Improvement in coffins



F. B. JAMES.

COFFIN.

I Patented Marohl, 1877.

MPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGHAPHE WASHINGTON. D CA FRANCIS B. JAMES, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPRovEMENT |N coFFlNs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,296, dated March 13, 1877 v; application filed January 24,1877.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that l, FRANCIS. B. JAMES, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Catal'aique or False Coffin, of which the following is a specifica-` tion:

This invention relates to that class of burial appliances which comprise an outer and highly-finished sham case or casket for enveloping an inner coffin madev of common or inferior stuff, which inner receptacle contains the corpse; and the rst part of my invention comprises a novel combination of hinged and outwardly-opening sides, handles, hooks, and sockets, that insures the automatic disengagement of the innerv receptacle or coffin proper from the inclosing casket or 'case the moment said inner coffin reaches the bottom of the grave, as hereinafter more fully described.

The second part of my invention consists in a combination of lugs, turn-bar, and tongue, which turn-bar and tongue serve the twofold purpose of securing the lid to the coflinfproper, and also of locking the cap of said lid in position, as more fully explained hereafter.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section through my catai'alque, the position of the concealed coffin being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the catafalque, but showing the inner coffin in its normal or engaged position. Fig. 3 is a similar section, representing the inner coffin as deposited in the grave and disengaged from the outer case. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the outer case, showing the devices that secure the lid in position.

The principal member of my outer case or casket is a stout rectangular frame, A, which is preferably' made of metal, and is surround ed with a bead or molding, B, that stiffens said frame, and adds to the finished appearance of the same. Depending rigidly from this frame are two end pieces, D D', which may be inclined, as shown or they may be perfectly vertical. Hinged to this frame A B at e and f are two side pieces, E F, to whose exteriors the handles Gr are secured, while the inner sides of said pieces have attached to them upturned hooks or catches, or other retaining devices, H, which retaining devices are located near the open bottom of the inclosing is provided with two lugs, a' a', that have the i opposite ends of a turn bar, J, engaged beneath them. This bar is rotated with an external knob or handle, j, that may be so constructed as to contain iowers or emblems, &Jc. Projecting from the under side of lid I'are stopst' t', that iimitthe motion of bar J in either direction. Projecting laterally from said bar is a tongue, K, adapted to enter a grooved plate, L, on the under side of the detachable cap M ofthe casket-lid. By this arrangement the turn-bar serves the twofold purpose'of lowered into the grave.

The method of using my catafalque is as follows: The corpse is first placed in the cofiin proper, N, and the latter is then enveloped within the outer case or casket A D Dl E F I, the hooks H being engaged in the sockets fn O, as seen in Fig. 2. N ow, by referring to this illustration, it will be noticed that the bottom of cofn N is elevated a slight distance above the bottom of the casket, and, owing to the peculiar shape of hooks H and guard-plates 0, the weight of said coffin and its contents draws .the hinged sides E F together, and maintains them securely in such a closed position as long as may be necessary. While the two coffins are thus coupled together, the

-capMcan be removed, so as to allow the friends seeing the corpse, it being understood that the inner box N is provided with a glass-covered opening, located directly under cap M It is also understood that the interior of frame As soon as the procession arrives at the cem- 2 y Isaacs etery, two or more pieces of wood or stones, R, are placed across the bottom of the, grave, and the coupled coirins are then lowered with straps P P, in the usual manner. The moment the inner coffin N comes in contact with the supports R the weight ofthe outer casket causes the hooks EI to instantly disengage themselves from sockets'nl 0, and a slight pull on the straps P P swings the lower o'r free edges of sides E F away from the coin, as seen in Fig. 3. The casket is now elevated and returned to the hearse,while the coffin N remains in the grave.

As thc external casket is gottenup' in a highly-finished and very ornamental manner, while the actual coin is composed of cheap, common stu', it is apparent that my catafalque enables people of moderate means indulging in an apparently `first-class funeral without being subjected to the heavy expense incidental to such occasions.

i If objections should be made to the exposition of the cheap coftin in-the grave, this diculty can be obviated by simply leaving the casket and its contents in a vault, and af` when none but the immediate relatives of the l deceased are present.

As the leading feature of my invention consists of` an outer case that` automatically disengages itself from the con proper the instant` the latter reaches the bottom of the grave, I reserve the right of modifying the details of l construction, provided this leading feature of the invention is preserved. y p

I claim as my inventionl. An external or false casket or case which envelops'the coin proper, and is automatically disengaged therefrom as soon as' said cofn comes in contact with suitable supports` placed in the grave, substantially as herein described, and for the purposeset forth. l 2. The combination of outer casket or case A D D', hinged and. outwardly-opening l sides E e Ff, handles G, and retaining devices H, which latter engage Awith sockets n O of the` inner coffin N substantially as herein described and set forth.

3. The combination of frame A,1ugsia/a.,

lid I, turn-bar Jj, tongue K, and cap L `L M, whereby said turn-bar is rendered capable of locking the lid to the frame, and also securing the cap to the lid, substantially as herein described and set forth. p

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.V

FRANcs B. JAMES. 

